Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-02-04
THANKFUL'S TWO VIGILS.
BY JAMES FRANKLIN Fits,

BY JAMES FRANKLIN FITS.
When the irrepressible Americans
bored down thousand feet into the
heart of Pennsylvania and extracted
fabulous quantities OF oil, and when
the ladies became content with steel
stripes for corsets instead of whale
bone-then one of the greatest and
most adventurous OF the industries of
New England received it's death blow.
Our story relates to the time when
there was hustle and business in an
ancient and historic seaport. where
now may be seen -rotting wharves
and tun1ble.down warehouses;; when
q dozen sea-going vessels were in
the harbor where one is now
seen; when the staunch whale-ships
went out on their long voyages,
and came back laden with the wealth
that made the prosperity OF the port;
when sailors and sailors families
made up q large share Of the popula-
ton and the old town really seemed
to belong less to the land than to, the
sea.
All this has changed; and the Incl
dents we relate could hardly occur
there now. But human lives and hui
man hopes and fears, happiness and
misery, are much the same eyerv-
where.
Well back from the harbor, the
wharves and the busy part OF the
town, in that outskirt of it that was
built on. the rising ground that
overlooked the town. bay and
ocean, Captain Benson had his
cottage. He was. at home very lit
tie of the time; but when he was he.
loved place like this, command
ing a vic view Of the ocean-rim, where
he could sit at the window by the
hour and with his good glass discover
the first indication of SAILS approach
ing the coast. He was g. veteran
whaler, and had for fully fifty years
pursued the business ON all seas. For
the last two years he had commanded
the whaleship Chevalier. On his last
voyage out he had said to- his wife,
"It'll be the last, Nancy. Let me
go once more to the South Pacific
and fill the old ship with oil,
and then I'll stay here and
pass the rest Of my days with you
and Thankful. Jack Sturdy, my
mate, will then be master-he's fine
fellow, Thankful; must bring hina
here to see you"
Then the old captain looked from
his wife to his daughter and added the
droll remark, "For my part, I'm be-
ginning to think it's time / was better
acquainted with you two"
He went to sea again, but he never
returned. A year later the eyes of the
wife and daughter was gladdened by
the sight of the Chevalier sailing into
the bay. But instead of him they
eagerly watched for, the mate came
up, slowly and sorrowfully, to tell
them that the captain had died of
fever in Callao, and was buried there.
John Sturdy was now captain, and
was busy enough overhauling the ship,
picking his crew and making all ready
for his first voyage in command OF the
ship. But it was noticed that after
everything had been done for the wife
and daughter which the dying captain
had requested, after their grief had
somewhat subsidized, Captain Sturdy
still climbed the hill to the cottage at
least three times week.
Presently uhegossips of the neighbor.
hood began to hint that Thankful
Benson could tel! why he came so Oft
en-; and not more than three months
had passed since he first came when
Mrs. Benson silenced them all with
the plain statement:
''There needn't be any mystery
about it; Thankful and Captain Stur.
dy are engaged, and will be married
as soon as a proper respect for the
memory of her father will allow. It'll
probably be at the end OF the Cheva-
lier's next voyage"
= John Sturdy was an experienced
seaman of 36-fifteen years older than
Thanktul-to whom his ship had been
his world, and to whom ideas IF love
and marriage had appeared idle
myths. He met Thankful Benson for
tho first time when she tainted in his
arms upon his distressing errand to
the cottage. She had grown upon his
fancy with every visit, and his heart
was quickly offered. With her it was
a case OF first love. 1t was all that her
giriish imagination required. And
when he took the girl by the hand and
asked the widow for her consent
''he smiled and sighed all at once.
20, it's we'll enough, Thankful" she
Aald, "if you must marry a sailor,
but l WAS in hopes you wouldn't let
your affections 60 scattering" ,.
tits the way of our family, you
know, mother" and the daughter
smiled and looked up to her sailor
trusrfully. H.. = XII f, s...,.. ..s.
Indeed it is, and sorry and heart
breaking way it has been for the wom-
en-. Not only in our family, but in
all the seamen's families is it true.
For thirty years I've known this port,
and Of all its sailors that have died in
that time not one out Of four has died.
in his bed. But the Lord wills it, and
may you be happy. = I, !, s. E.. 4 81
~ Vhen / knew ] was to be master Of
the Chevalisr e, SAID John Sturdy. II
did not think ] should quit her for
ten years &c least. I'm q sailor, and
love the Sea. with all its perils; but
now, i Thankful asks me to quit Il for.
her, I'm ready
-. Indeed, Then, do ask you. ',S..
80 But only at the end Of this voyage.
Ny word has been given to the own.
ers, and can not break il. The time
will be shorss;; let ~ live in hope Of it. Z ],
CO. All, this one last voyagell sighed
Mrs. Benson rusfully & Pray God il
may fare bettors than that other last
voyage. 81
fhe Chevalier sailed il March. The
parting one; Quite -